Transfers: Who is in and who is out?

Over the last few weeks more than 80 transfers have been completed in the Hong Kong Premier League. With only a few days left before the start of the new season, we took a closer look and put together a substantial overview of “who is in?” and “who is out?”. The time window for new signings will actually remain open until September 26th, although this deadline hardly matters in a league where 99% of all transfers are free.

International Transfers

In total, 15 overseas players have been signed so far this summer, or 16 if we include Hong Kong-German Andreas Lam Zhi Gin, who previously played in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV and later on Greuter Fürth. Undoubtedly, one of the most spectacular signings is 26-year-old Salva Chamorro, who joins Pegasus from Barcelona’s B team. Kitchee have also impressed with bringing in promising players such as Marcos de la Espada (Gimnastic / Spain), Pau Bosch (Lleida Esportiu, Spain) and Kim Bong-jun (Gyeongnam FC / South Korea). Title contenders Eastern on the other hand have only signed Australian defender Josh Mitchell who brings valuable A-League (Newcastle Jets) and CSL (Liaoning) experience to the team. Similarly, South China have only replaced one of their foreign aids, with Felix Borja having to leave to make room for Serbian forward Nikola Komazec, who previously played in Georgia where he scored 4 goals in 13 games for Dinamo Batumi. In contrast, district teams such as Yuen Long and Tai Po will rely heavily on Brazilian power, with the greens signing midfielder Dudu (Penapolense SP/ Brazil), Lucas Silva (Aimore RS / Brazil), and are also expected to finalize the contracts with David Lazari (Real Esteli FC / Nicaragua) and Everson Lima (Osasco FC / Brazil) before the start of the season, while the Tangerines signed Brazilian centre forward Diego Higino (Conquista BA / Brazil). Southern District will try their luck with Walter Vaz Correa, a French of Bissau-Guinean descent, who joins from Uruguayan side El Tanque Sisley. Surprisingly, even Sapling, which is supposed to foster Hong Kong’s youth development, shopped around and made some interesting signings, such as Spaniard Rafa Wellington (Chiangmai FC / Thailand), Equatorial-Guinean national team player Raul Fabiani (CD Castellon, Spain) and 25-year old Brazilian midfielder Junior from Sporting Macau.

Local Transfers

With two teams being relegated from the Premier League (Wong Tai Sin, Dreams) and four new teams joining (Tai Po, HKFC, Sapling, R&F), the local market has also been very dynamic throughout the summer. While most of the Sapling team consists of former players from Rangers and Wong Tai Sin, Yuen Long and Rangers also seem to have simply switched a quarter of their squads. Interestingly, Tai Po have signed some of Hong Kong’s most promising talents, such as Wong Wai, Lee Ka Yiu, Tan Chun Lok and Fung Hing Wa (all from Pegasus and still under 25), and they also found room for underrated Japanese forward Yuto Nakamura (South China) as well as Brazilian goalkeeper Paulo Cesar (Rangers). Furthermore, some interesting signings have happened between the top teams of the league. Eastern secured the services of Hong Kong striker Jaimes McKee (Pegasus) as well as midfielder Leung Chun Pong (South China). Kitchee on the other hand have only recruited from their own talent pool and have decided to bring in four local talents of foreign descent from their reserve squad, including Sebastian Buddle, Mark Swainston, Robbie Stamp and Barak Braunshtain. While Pegasus have snapped up several youngsters from voluntarily relegated Dreams Metro Gallery, three of their top players have also left to join South China instead, and Leung Nok Hang, Leung KwunChung and Lo Ka Wai will all be wearing the red of the Caroliners in the future. Conversely, Pegasus signed Macanese forward Leong Ka Hang from Tai Po. Newcomers R&F have so far confirmed seven of their eight required local signings. Aside from four lower division players (from Yau Tsim Mong, Eastern District, Central & Western), they also hired Chuck Yiu Kwok (Rangers) and Cheung Kwok Ming (Kitchee).

Loans

Hong Kong’s loan signings this year are clearly dominated by Kitchee and Eastern, who remain the only teams with the necessary depth to actually loan out some of their players. Kitchee’s JordiTarres and Fernando Recio will be on the payroll of Rangers this year, while their teammates Emmet Wan and Christian Annan have found a temporary home at Pegasus. Other Kitchee players on loan include Ngan Lok Fung (Yuen Long), Leung Ka Hai (R&F), and Chan Ka Ho (Sapling). Reigning champions Eastern send three of their players to both Rangers (Wong Chun Hin, Wong Tsz Ho, Tse Long Hin) and Sapling (Lee Ka Wah, Lee Yat Chun, Lilley Nunez Vasudeva), and one to Yuen Long (Yiu Ho Ming).